For the leader. A psalm of David.
I
The heavens declare the glory of God’
the firmament proclaims the works of his hands.
Day unto day pours forth speech;
night unto night whispers knowledge.
There is no speech, no words;
their voice is not heard;
A report goes forth through all the earth,
their messages, to the ends of the world.
He has pitched in them a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom from his canopy,
and like a hero joyfully runs its course.
From one end of the heavens it comes forth;
its course runs through to the other;
nothing escapes its heat.
II
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the Lord is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eye.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The statutes of the Lord are true,
all of them just;
More desirable than gold,
than a hoard of purest gold,
Sweeter also than honey
or drippings from the comb.
By them your servant is warned;
obeying them brings much reward.
III
Who can detect trespasses?
Cleanse me from my inadvertent sins.
Also from arrogant ones restrain your servant;
let them never control me.
Then shall I be blameless,
innocent of grave sin.
Let the words of my mouth be acceptable,
the thoughts of my heart before you,
Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:1-15
What a perfect day for me to reflect on a psalm that is all about praising God. Today I say a prayer of thanks for the gift of my son, Zac, who was born on this day 26 years ago! In some ways I can’t remember life without him; in other ways it seems like he was just born yesterday!
Ducky Towel! 
The hello-phone 
with Dad 
Being silly with his sister 
Cheesy with me
There are very few events in life that can make you marvel at “the works of his hands” like the birth of a child. The entire process is remarkable, as is all of God’s creation. May we all recognize every day the beauty and majesty that is all around us.
Of course, the physical beauty is only part of the wonderful world God has given us. As the psalmist reminds us, we can also marvel at the amazing situations we discover every day thanks to the law of the Lord, the decree of the Lord, the precepts of the Lord, the command of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, and the statutes of the Lord.
It’s the whole world, every part of it and all of us who are in it. Do you ever just sit back and admire some of the joys of life that are happening all around us? It’s easy to get caught up in the bad news, especially since people seem to be especially prone to dwelling on the negative lately.
But let’s not go down that path today. Let’s focus on the wonders of the world, which are “more desirable than gold.” Actually, I think that’s the lesson Zac was sent to teach me. Even as a little kid, he had a way of showing up with a smile and a hug at just the right moment, whenever I really needed it.
So I want to be that positive force for others today. Who knows what worry or hurt others might have in their hearts? Just in case, let’s make sure we treat each other with kindness and offer a smile to everyone we meet. As the psalmist prays, “let the words of my mouth be acceptable, the thoughts of my heart before you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”